Amateur-built SHA Glasair N41SS accident near Elk Creek, California

Probable cause

The pilot's misjudged landing flare, inadequate bounced landing recovery technique, and failure to attain and maintain an adquate airspeed during an aborted landing. Contributing to the accident was the short runway.

NTSB analysis

Following a normal approach for landing on the short grass runway, the airplane touched down two times before the pilot added power to abort the landing. As he added power to takeoff, the airplane touched down a third time. He tried to hold the airplane in ground effect to allow the airplane to accelerate to climb airspeed; however, he was not able to maintain the airplane's altitude and the airplane touched down a final time. As the airplane bounced into the air, he made a turn to the left to avoid a fence and trees at the end of the runway. The airplane was headed towards an enclosed valley, so the pilot made a slight right turn towards uphill tree covered terrain. He reduced the power and placed the airplane in a nose high attitude prior to colliding with a tall tree.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for LAX08CA123 for the full record.